Report: Pens’ Cullen has three options in free-agency

Matt Cullen is one of the most respected veterans in the NHL. Even at 40 years of age, the centerman proved his value by dominating the faceoff dot throughout the Pittsburgh Penguins run to another Stanley Cup championship this postseason. However, with his one-year, $1 million contract expiring on July 1st, his NHL future is very much up in the air.

One NHL insider, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, reports that Cullen, should he choose to continue playing, will likely return to Pittsburgh or Minnesota for 2017-18, but don’t count out a dark horse: the Buffalo Sabres. From Friedman:

It looks like Minnesota, Pittsburgh or retirement for Matt Cullen, but it would not be a shock if Buffalo called him. GM Jason Botterill knows him and he’d be an excellent fit. A centre who can teach and still play is never bad.

Interesting. Cullen has bounced around his entire career playing for the Anaheim Ducks, Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, Ottawa Senators, Nashville Predators and, of course, the Wild and Penguins, so it shouldn’t seem weird to picture him with a new team, yet it does. After taking a chance on the Penguins two offseason ago, Cullen’s gamble has paid off in spades and produced two Stanley Cup championships. Why would he leave a good situation for an unknown situation in Buffalo?